A butcher has clarified the age old question about whether or not you should wash raw chicken before cooking it.
Most home cooks, even amateurs, will know to never eat raw chicken. It contains bacteria that can cause food poisoning, including salmonella and E. coli. However, this bacteria is banished when the chicken is cooked through.
To better protect themselves from these bacteria, some people swear by washing their raw chicken. They believe rinsing it can remove even more bacteria before cooking it.
However, a butcher believes it’s actually worse for your health to wash your poultry before preparing it. He took to TikTok to share his reasoning.
Spanish butcher El As Carnicero has more than 30 years of experience with meat and often shares his tips and recipes online.
The expert went on to tell the story of a customer who was buying chicken from him. Apparently, she said: “Put it in a bag, don’t wrap it on paper or put in any tray because as soon as I get home, I’m going to wash it.'”
He went on to question the woman about cleaning her chicken, to which she replied that she liked to remove “all the dirt and bacteria” that the chicken had on it.
The butcher then explain to viewers about the dangers of washing chicken and any other type of meat.
“It can contain bacteria and, when we put it under the tap, all the water splashes can contaminate appliances, utensils, the sink… But do you know how dangerous that is?,” he said.
He believes washing your meat can actually increase the risk of getting sick with illnesses such as salmonella, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach ache.
Instead, he told viewers to ensure they cook the meat through so the inner temperature is more than 65 degrees. He added: “That will eliminate everything. But please, don’t wash the meat. Where do you get this from?”
In the comments section though, some disagreed with him. One said: “Meat has been washed all my life.” Meanwhile, others argued that not washing your meat was ‘disgusting’.
From a food safety perspective, washing raw poultry, beef, pork, lamb or veal before cooking it is not recommended as the safest method, according to USDA research. Experts found that washing or rinsing meat or poultry increases the risk for cross-contamination in the kitchen, which can cause foodborne illness.
